Definition of Riot Act

1. Noun. A vigorous reprimand. "I read him the riot act"


2. Noun. A former English law requiring mobs to disperse after a magistrate reads the law to them.
Generic synonyms: Law
Group relationships: Criminal Law
Category relationships: Jurisprudence, Law

Definition of Riot Act

1. Proper noun. An English law that stated that if 12 or more people assembled unlawfully in a public place they must disperse when read a proclamation ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Riot Act

Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Nunez coffee
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de la Plata
Rioja
Riojan
Riojans
Riojas
Riolan's anastomosis
Riolan's arc
Riolan's arcades
Riolan's bones
Riolan's muscle
Rioni
Rios
Riot Act (current term)
Rip1 peroxidase
Rip van Winkle
Riparia
Riparia riparia
Ripault's sign
Ripperologist
Ripperologists
Ripperology
Ripuarian
Ripuarians
Rising Sun
Risley's rotary prism
Risorgimento
Riss glaciation

Literary usage of Riot Act

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Origin and Growth of the English Constitution: An Historical Treatise by Hannis Taylor (1898)
"When the military may be lawfully employed; Riot Act of George I. st. 2, c. ... 5, known as the Riot Act, still in force, which makes it a felony for twelve ..."

2. The Encyclopaedia Britannica: “a” Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature edited by Hugh Chisholm (1911)
"The Riot Act docs not extend to Ireland, but similar provisions are ... The Riot Act (1716) applies to Scotland, There is a civil remedy against the county ..."

3. The Encyclopedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature and by Hugh Chisholm (1911)
"The Riot Act docs not extend to Ireland, but similar provisions arc ... The Riot Act (1716) applies to Scotland. There is a civil remedy against the county ..."

4. A Treatise on the Law of Evidence by Samuel March Phillipps (1822)
"(2) Secondly, as to the action given by the riot act. II. Action on The riot act, (1 G. 1. st . 2. c. 5. s. 6.) makes the inhabitants of a hundred liable to ..."

5. The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General by Thomas Spencer Baynes (1888)
"The liability of tho county or burgh for destruction of property by riot is provided for by the Riot Act and by several Acts of Parliament of tho reign of ..."

6. The Annual Register, Or, A View of the History, Politics, and Literature for by Edmund Burke, Benjamin Franklin Collection (Library of Congress), John Davis Batchelder Collection (Library of Congress) (1822)
"With re- spect to the Riot-act's having been read, he denied in the most positive ... The learned counsel was perfectly aware that no riot-act was read ..."

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